Alfred Stephens

{{short description|Australian writer and literary critic}} {{About||the Australian judge and chief justice of New South Wales|Alfred Stephen|those of a similar name|Alfred Stevens (disambiguation)}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox writer  | name = A. G. Stephens | image = Alfred Stephens PIC116c.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | pseudonym = | birth_name = Alfred George Stephens | birth_date = {{birth date|1865|8|28|df=y}} | birth_place = Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | death_date = {{death date and age|1933|4|15|1865|8|28|df=y}} | death_place = Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia | resting_place = | occupation = | language = English | nationality = Australian | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | period = | genre = literary criticism | subject =  | movement = | notableworks = | spouse =  | partner =  | children = | relatives = | awards = | signature = | signature_alt = | years_active = }} '''Alfred George Stephens''' (28 August 1865 – 15 April 1933), commonly referred to as '''A. G. Stephens''', was an Australian writer and literary critic, notably for ''The Bulletin''. He was appointed to that position by its owner, J. F. Archibald in 1894.

== Early life and journalism ==

Stephens was born on 28 August 1865<ref name=TC1952>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article288243735 |title=To honour memory of A. G. STEPHENS |newspaper=The Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette |volume=XCI |issue=173 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=13 May 1952 |access-date=6 December 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> in Tooowomba to Samuel George and Euphemia Tweedle Stephens, members of a pioneering family of the area.<ref name=Bund1933>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article284398485 |title=Obituary |newspaper=Bundaberg Daily News and Mail |volume=26 |issue=81 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=18 April 1933 |access-date=6 December 2025 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He was educated at the Toowoomba Grammar School, and then started an apprenticeship in the printing trade with ''The Toowoomba Chronicle''.<ref name=Bund1933 /><ref name=TC1952 />

In 1892 he won a prize of £25 for an essay "Why North Queensland Wants Separation", published in 1893,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39445833 |title=The Cairns Post |newspaper=Cairns Post |volume=X |issue=819 |location=Queensland|date=15 March 1893 |accessdate=11 December 2017 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and in this year was also published "The Griffilwraith" ('An Independent Criticism of the Methods and Manoeuvres of the Queensland Coalition. Government, 1890–1893'),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article173508559 |title=Griffilwraith |newspaper=The Telegraph |issue=6,391 |location=Brisbane |date=12 April 1893 |accessdate=11 December 2017 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> an able piece of pamphleteering attacking the coalition of the old rivals, Sir Samuel Griffith and Sir Thomas McIlwraith.

==''The Bulletin''== thumb|right|Alfred Stephens In April 1893 having sold his share in the Cairns paper he left Australia for San Francisco, travelled across the continent, and thence to Great Britain and France. He had begun to do some journalistic work in London when he received the offer from J. F. Archibald of a position on ''The Bulletin''.<ref name=SMH193304>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16964449 |title=Death of Mr. A. G. STEPHENS |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=29,730 |date=17 April 1933 |accessdate=10 December 2017 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref name=Bund1933 /> He returned to Australia and arrived at Sydney in January 1894.<ref name=Bund1933 /> His account of his travels, "A Queenslander's Travel Notes", published in that year, though bright enough in its way suggests a curiously insensitive Stephens.

Stephens was an active editor between the years 1897–1904, working on sixteen books of poetry, as well as ''Such is Life'', Rudd's 1899 ''On Our Selection'' and ''Bulletin Story Book''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lee|first=S.E.|date=September 1964|title=A. G. Stephens as literary editor|url=https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=389605038242714;res=IELLCC|journal=Southerly|volume=24, 3|pages=161–173}}</ref> He was also the author of ''The Pearl and the Octopus'', ''The Lady Calphurnia Royal'' (with Albert Dorrington), ''The Red Pagan'', ''Oblation'',<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167903299 |title="Oblation:" Verses by A. G. Stephens. A literary criticism on a non-literary subject |newspaper=Truth |issue=670 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=7 June 1903 |access-date=6 December 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and ''Bill's Ideas'' (1913).<ref name=Bund1933 /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128724275 |title=Bill's Ideas (A. G. Stephens) |newspaper=The World's News |issue=587 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=15 March 1913 |access-date=6 December 2025 |page=29 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121296896 |title=Mr. A. G. Stephens as humourist |newspaper=The Maitland Daily Mercury |issue=13,104 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=14 March 1913 |access-date=6 December 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

==Later career==

In September 1906, newspapers suggested Stephens was going to London where it was expected he would remain, but this was confusion with another Stephens.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article82464166|title=A. G. STEPHENS |date=19 September 1906|newspaper=The Daily News|accessdate=10 December 2017|issue=9771|location=Western Australia |volume=XXV |page=5|edition=Second |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article82460817 |title="Red Page" STEPHENS |date=18 September 1906|newspaper=The Daily News|accessdate=10 December 2017|issue=9770|location=Western Australia|volume=XXV |page=1|edition=SECOND|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57233344 |title=Peeps at people |newspaper=Sunday Times (Perth) |issue=458 |location=Western Australia |date=14 October 1906 |accessdate=11 December 2017 |page=1 (Second section) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In October 1906 however 'Red Page' Stephens had left ''The Bulletin''; the exact reason for the break has never been known.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44516071 |title=People |newspaper=The Barrier Miner |volume=XIX |issue=5705 |location=New South Wales|date=20 October 1906 |accessdate=11 December 2017 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref name=TC1952 /><ref group="note">Norman Lindsay in ''Bohemians of the Bulletin '' claims that Stephens, after his return from a visit to Europe, demanded a raise in pay, which he was refused. He resigned 'in a fit of pique'. Lindsay adds that Stephens 'was a fool to leave... and they were bigger fools to let him go...'</ref> He initially set up a bookshop.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article240671630 |title=Topical notes |newspaper=The Socialist |issue=29 |location=New South Wales|date=29 December 1906 |accessdate=11 December 2017 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

For the remaining 27 years of his life Stephens was a freelance writer, excepting a brief period as a leader writer on the ''Wellington Post'' in 1907.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226878823 |title=The "Bookfellow" |newspaper=The Sunday Sun |issue=381 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=17 July 1910 |access-date=6 December 2025 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In 1914 he penned, with music, work entitled "The Australian National Anthem".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111681684 |title=Australian National Anthem |newspaper=Moree Gwydir Examiner and General Advertiser |volume=34 |issue=82 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=13 October 1914 |access-date=6 December 2025 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Over time, he undertook criticism of Henry Kendall (1839–1882) and Christopher Brennan (1870–1932).<ref name=Sun1933>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229045327 |title=Mr. A. G. STEPHENS'S death |newspaper=The Sun |issue=1568 |location=Sydney |date=16 April 1933 |accessdate=10 December 2017 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He recognised the works of poet Shaw Neilson (1872–1942).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41293368 |title=A. G. STEPHENS |newspaper=The West Australian |volume=53 |issue=15,846 |location=Western Australia |date=10 April 1937 |access-date=6 December 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77929357 |title=Our Literary Section |newspaper=The Border Watch |volume=74 |issue=7748 |location=South Australia |date=11 September 1934 |access-date=6 December 2025 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> High praise was also given to the works of Scottish-Australian poet and bush balladeer Will H. Ogilvie (1869–1963).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17396595 |title=Will H. OGILVIE |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=31,153 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=6 November 1937 |access-date=6 December 2025 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Despite the volume of written verse, Stephens considered his own work to be no more than "quite good rhetorical verse"; whilst he was considered a good interviewer and critic.<ref name=TC1952 />

Stephens and his wife, Constance Ivings Belle Stephens,<ref name=SMH1934>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17111595 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |issue=30,222 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=13 November 1934 |access-date=6 December 2025 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> had six children,<ref name=Sun1928>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222174045 |title=Married to-day |newspaper=The Sun |issue=5526 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=25 July 1928 |access-date=6 December 2025 |page=11 (Final extra) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> two sons Dr J. G., D. G., and four daughters, including Cynthia, Alison, and Alwyn.<ref name=SMH193304 /> Eldest daughter Constance Robertson (1895–1964) was at one time the editor of ''Women's Budget''.<ref name=Sun1933 />

Stephens died in Sydney, on 15 April 1933,<ref name=Sun1933 /> only a day after his 90-year-old mother died in Toowoomba.<ref name=Bund1933 /> He was survived by his widow and children.<ref name=Bund1933 /> Stephens' wife died in November 1934, and was cremated.<ref name=SMH1934 />

==Publications==

===Anthologies edited===

* ''The Bulletin Reciter: A Collection of Verses for Recitation from the Bulletin 1880-1901'' (1901)<ref>{{cite web|title=''The Bulletin Reciter'' |publisher=National Library of Australia |url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2202664|accessdate=15 June 2023}}</ref> * ''The Bulletin Story Book : A Selection of Stories and Literary Sketches from the Bulletin 1880–1901'' (1901)<ref>{{cite web|title= ''The Bulletin Story Book'' |publisher= National Library of Australia|url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/163309|accessdate= 15 June 2023}}</ref> * ''Anzac Memorial'' (1916)<ref>{{cite web|title=''Anzac Memorial'' |publisher=National Library of Australia|url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/711162|accessdate= 15 June 2023}}</ref>

==Notes==

==References==

==Bibliography== * Cantrell, Leon (ed.) (1977). ''A. G. Stephens : selected writings''. Angus and Robertson. {{ISBN|0-207-13244-5}}. * Lindsay, Norman. (1973). 'A. G. Stephens' in ''Bohemians of the Bulletin''. Angus and Robertson. {{ISBN|0-207-12946-0}}. Lindsay's portrait of A. G. Stephens the man is unflattering: Lindsay writes that there was 'an enmity' between them that lasted until Stephens' death. Nonetheless, Lindsay firmly declares Stephens' 'important place in the literary tradition of this country.' * Miller, E. Morris. (1973). ''Australian literature from its beginnings to 1935 : a descriptive and bibliographical survey of books by Australian authors in poetry, drama, fiction, criticism and anthology with subsidiary entries to 1938.'' Sydney University Press. {{ISBN|0-424-06920-2}} * Palmer, Vance. (1941) ''A. G. Stephens, His Life and Work.'' Melbourne, Robertson and Mullins. * Stephensen, P. R. (1940). ''The life and works of A.G. Stephens ("The Bookfellow") : a lecture, delivered to the Fellowship of Australian Writers, Sydney, 10 March 1940''. Self-published. * Rolfe, Patricia. (1979). 'Rhadamanthus of the Red Page' in ''The Journalistic Javelin.'' Sydney, Wildcat Press. {{ISBN|0-908463-02-2}}. * ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 17 April 1933

==External links== * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Alfred George Stephens}} * {{Librivox author |id=8672}} * {{Dictionary of Australian Biography|First=Stephens|Last=Alfred|shortlink=0-dict-biogSt-Sy.html#stephens1}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Alfred}} Category:1865 births Category:1933 deaths Category:Australian biographers Category:Australian male biographers Category:Australian magazine editors Category:People educated at Toowoomba Grammar School Category:Australian literary critics Category:Australian publishers (people)